Method and apparatus for decorating pottery ware



May 11, 194s. W, J MlLLER 2,441,164

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE Original Filed Aug. 21, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENToR. w/ LL/AM u. MILLER May ll, 1948. w. J. MILLER 2,441,164

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE Original Filed Aug. 21, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILL/AM d. MILLER May n, 1943- w. .J. MILLER 2,441,164

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE Original Filed Aug. 2l, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 -/56 INVENTOH. WILL/AM d. MILLER May 1l, 1948. w, J, M|| LER 2,441,164

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE Original Filed Aug. 2l, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dunn-onu tous.. v

UDO

May l1, 1948. w. J. MILLER 2,441,164

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE Original Filed Aug. 21, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVENToR. WILL IAM d. MILLER W. J. MILLER May 11, 1948.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE Original Filed Aug. 2l, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I l i Y.

INVENTOR. WILL/AM d. MILLER W. J. MILLER May l1, l1948.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECORATING POTTERY WARE Original Filed Aug. 21 1941 7 Sheets-SheelI 7 IN VEN TOR. WILL/AM d. MILLER BY Q X'ATTQ Ex aiented ay il, i948 METHD AND APBATUS FOR DECORAT- ING POTTERY WARE William J. Miller, Swissvale, Pa., asslgnor to Mil. ler Pottery Engineering Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania.

@riginal application August 2li, 1941, Serial No.

407,733. Divided and this application December 16, 1942, Serial No. d69,l95

(Cl. llll-1) 35 Claims..

This is a division of my co-pending application for United States Letters Patent 407,733,

flled August 21, 1941, now Patent No. 2,438,514.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for decorating `red pottery ware. It has to do with applying decalcomania and the like to pottery ware, particularly table ware, such as, plates, cups and saucers and otheriorms of hollow Wareor at ware.

It has been customary to apply decalcomania by hand, the transfers being first cut out of large sheets of paper on which the designs were originally printed. In the case o border decor ations, these transfers were applied segmentally to the previously sized ware and fitted together by hand. The pigment was smoothed out and alixed to the ware by brushing and the paper backing subsequently soaked od and the ware dried and red. Except for tting up the segments, it was Just as laborious and exacting to apply single decorations, for instance center ornament on plates. In either event. great Smil and patience was required to properly apply the transfers.

One object of this invention ls to eliminate the need for skilled labor in decorating pottery ware and to substitute therefor automatic pro cedure and apparatus requiring unskilled labor. Another object of this invention is to place pottery decorating on a mass production basis wherein Ithe decoration as well as the production may be diversified.

In the drawings: l

Fig. l is a vertical section of the preferred form of decalcomana cutting out and applying apparatus. l

Fig. 2 is a front 'elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1 as viewed from the right of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of' the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 as viewed from the left hand side of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 3.

llg. 5 is a side elevation oi' the entire apparatus' illustrating the drive mechanism and the 2 intermittently feeding transfer paper through the decoration applying apparatus.

Fig. 8 isan enlarged detail, partly ln section, showing the applicator head applying the transfer to the ware.

Fig-9 is a detail in perspective of the platen and cooperating hold-down bars.

Fig. l0 is a horizontal section taken substantally on the line lll-l@ of Fig. 2, illustrating the ware holding chucks and means for rotating the same.

Fig. 1l is a view of four transfer segments arranged in a flat plane to describe a ring.

Fig. 12 is a View in perspective of the transfer segments arranged edge to edge and describing a conical plane conforming with the verge of the ware. i

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view o a pieceof dat Ware having a substantially fiat verge.

Fig. 14 shows a center decoration applied to a piece of flat Ware.

'Fig'. 15 is a View similar to Fig. 8, illustrating another form of decal appller and control means therefor.

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view of another form. of apparatus for decorating hollow ware.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line l'l--l'l of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a viewshowlng how the exact shape ofv an arcuate transfer segment ls determined to conform to the sloping verge of a piece of :datwere.

' Fig. 19 is a sectional detail of another form of the appller shown in Fig. 15.'

In my co-pending application, there ls shown and described an organized machine for automatlcally sizing, decorating, washing and drying pottery ware, however, the present application has to. do only with the step of cutting out decal 3 ing of size on the surface which receives the decoration. Size is composed of turpentine and Canadian balsam.

With reference to Figs. 1 to 6. the decal applying apparatus includes a lower crosshead Il which israised and lowered by spaced cams BI on a shaft 56 journaled in bearings in frame verticals 51. The crosshead extends between said frame portions 51 and has its ends guided for vertical reciprocation between suitable guide portions I8. Ware supporting chucks 58 are mounted on top of the crosshead, one for each line of production,

and arranged across the head in conformity withthe seats I of the trays 4 so as to register therewith. Each chuck includes a cavltous chuck member 60, Fig. 1, provided with a threaded depending stem 6| threaded into a flanged adjustment bushing 62 removably and rotatably socketed n a hollow supporting pedestal 81 bolted onto the crosshead. Different size chucks may be easily replaced by simply removing one and substituting another. By rotating the bushing 82,

the chuck may be adjusted four height. Within v the cavity of the chuck member in is an annular molded rubber insert or liner 6l whose upper surface 65 is shaped to snugly fit the underside of the rim or verge of the ware. The purpose of the insert is to provide a resilient support for the ware capable of having uniform pressure engagement therewith about the axis thereof, and that will yield slightly if the ware is slightly warped and whereby the ware will be held rmly against displacement or slippage as the chuck is turned during the decorating operation.

Generally, when each tray is brought over the chucks 59, the chucks are raised by the crosshead through the seats of the tray, whereupon the liners 64 of the chucks will engage the ware and lift same oil the seats 5. As the ware is engaged by thechucks, a vacuum is created within the closed space 86 that exists between the bottom of the ware and top of the chuck to firmly hold the ware from rotating on the insert. For this purpose, each chuck stem Si is hollow and communicates with one end of a vacuum passage 61 provided in the crosshead. When the crosshead is raised, the vacuum passage is brought into connection with a vacuum pump 88 by the other end of said passage registering with a port A89 in one of the guide portions il of the frame members and connected to the pump by a conduit 18. As the crosshead is finally lowered. the vacuum passage is vented by registering with a vent port 1i formed in said guide portion 58, whereby the ware may be readily released from the chuck and again placed upon its seat on the tray.

During initial downward movement of the chucks, they are rotated a quarter of a turn. This operation is completed four times while the tray is caused to dwell and after each turn of the ware when same is raised, a quarter segment of an annular decorative design is applied to the verge of the ware by the application of decalcomania transfer-sections, as will be later described. v

For intermittently rotating the chucks, each chuck member 60 has a circumferential row of ratchet teeth 12 engaged by a spring pressed pawl 13. Fig. 10, pivotally mounted on a swinging arm 14 having an enlarged pivot ring 1l oscillatably mounted upon the pedestal 63. All three chucks are simultaneously turned by a reciprocating shifter rod 18 having three links 11 pivotally connected therewith and with the swinging arms 1I. Each swinging arm 1I has a series of pivot apertures 18 spaced therealong for adjusting its pivotal connection with its respective link 11, to determine the degree of rotation to be imparted thereby to its respectiveychuck.

As seen in Fig. 2, the shifter rod is slidably guided in bearings 18 on the crosshead and has one end in sliding pivotal connection with the top end of an oscillatable lever 88. The lever is pivoted to the frame, as at 8i, and is moved in one direction by a cam 82 on shaft 56 against the tension of return spring 84. An adjustable stop 86, in the form of a set screw. limits the travel of the shifterbar 16 to enable adjustment of the degree of chuck rotation. After each quarter turn of the chucks, they are held in place by a spring pressed holding dog 85 arranged to engage the ratchet teeth 12 of the chuck. The cam 82 is so formed and rotated that the chucks and ware will receive the desired rotation before the ware is lowered into the seats of the trays during each reclprocation of the crosshead, and whereby four quarter turns will be imparted to the ware intermittently between movements of the conveyor.

Where a single decoration is to be applied in the center of the ware, as shown at 81, Fig. 14, rotation of the ware may be dispensed with. Also, if the ware has a flat verge, as shown at 88 in Fig. 13, rotation of the ware may or may not be dispensed with, as a number of transfer segments or a single one may be employed to form a decoration on such a verge.

As illustrated, the decoration applying apparatus is arranged to out the transfers from a parent roll of transfer designs and apply them progressively onto disc-like objects, or plates, having a conical or inwardly sloping verge 9|! (see Fig. l) to ornament the verge, such as shown at 89 in Fig. 14.4 To this end, as shown in Figs. l and 440 2, spaced above the chucks and supported between the side frame members 51 is a cutter plate 8| upon which is supported an intermittently advanced elongated length of transfer paper 92. The paper 92 is fed from a supply roll 93 thereof wound upon a reel 94 whose shaft 94a is detachably supported in bearings 95 on the side frames I. After passing over the cutter plate, the transfer paper is wound upon a reel 86 whose shaft 86a is detachably supported in bearings 91 and 98 of the frames I.

Printed on the underside of the transfer paper are three longitudinal rows of quarter transfer `segments 98 of decorative designs formed, respectively, in accordance with the various sizes of plates held by the chucks. The transfer segments of the middle row are curved oppositely to those of the outer rows to reduce the size of the sheet 82, economize on paper and to enable compactness of the cutting mechanism, as will be apparent later.

After each movement of the transfer paper, a transverse row of transfer segments will be brought into registry over the verges of the plates held by the chucks, respectively. When so positioned, each transfer segment is cut from the sheet by a hollow, vertically reciprocating cutter head |80 cooperating with the cutter plate ll and then applied to the verges of the plates by a vertically reciprocating applying plunger head IUI operating within the cutter head, as

more fully described later.

The transfer paper is intermittently advanced in accordance with the spacing. of the transfer segments by reciprocating pawls |02 having a multiple of ratchet-like teeth ID3 engaging a multiple of marginal perforations IM of the paper, so as to distribute the pull and avoid tear-A lng the paper between the perforations. As seen in Fig. '1, the pawls E02 are actuated by a cam |00 through levers |08 mounted on a shaft ll01 and oscillated by the cam engaging roller |08 at the end o1 a bellcrank lever extension l09 of one of the levers. The lever extension it is resiliently held in engagement with the cam H05 by a suitable tension spring H0.

To regulate the amount of intermittent movement of the transfer paper, each pawl has an adjustable lost motion connection with its respective lever 06. For this purpose, each pawl has an elongated slot lll within which is received a pivot rod H2 on thefree ends o the levers. To regulate the range of movement of the rod H2 in the slot of each pawl, in order to eiect the desired lost motion, a stop in the form of a screw lili is threaded into the end of the pawl and extendedinto the slot. The toothed head is enlarged so as to be resiliently held in contact with the transfer paper by gravity.

In regard to cutting out transfers: it will be understood that this invention comprehends the applicator of border decoration as well as center decoration to at ware. There are various forms of border decoration, for instance, the decoration may be continuous as a circle or a band or it may be a group of interlocked designs extendingaround 360 of the border. Again, said border decoration may consist of individual igures spaced from one another and the spacing may be small or it may be large.

I prefer to cut out the transfers in vertical registry with the place on the article where it is to be received. Furthermore, I prefer to apply the transfer, immediately it is cut out to the article by an axially moving implement. The invention comprehends the application of a decoration in its entirety at one and the same time and it also comprehends the application of a complete decoration in segments.

Each transfer, whether a segment of a larger design, or the design in its entirety, is positioned over the ware where it registers over a slot .or opening HE in the plate Sil. From the forego-s ing discussion, it will be clear that the shape of the opening will be determined by such factors as the segmental or whole character of the decoration. .For instance, where a border decoration is being applied to a plate as illustrated in Fig. 14, the slot or opening is arcuate in shape and said opening approximates a quarter section of the verge which indicates that the border decoration is of the continuousvariety such as a band or circle or the like'. Should the decoration be made up of individual figures separated by white space, then the length of the slot or opening lit might be less than the quartersection shown. If a center decoration suchas that shown in the center of the plate of Fig. 14 is being applied in its entirety to an article, then the opening might be circular. Moreover. if the verge of the plate is of polygonal shape, then the opening would approximate a parallelogram. Thus, it will be seen that there are many shapes and sizes of openings which may be utilized and I am not to be limited to the exact shapes shown.

In the present showing where the border of the were is being decorated, the opening is preierabiy slightly langer than the transfer segments to be cut thereby to permit employment of a race on the applying head itl covering the outermoet ma or the decoration and allow clear ance for the cutter head |00 to move between the marginv otthe opening and the applying head 10|. By providing full coverage for the applicator head, the size never comes in contact with it and therefore the head remains dry and cleanY at all times.

In order to hold the transfer paper, or sheet S2, taut while the transfer segments are being cut, a pair of spaced hold down bars H1 and H8 are provided, Fig. 9, which are arranged over the opposite curved cutting edge portions of the openings ll of the cutter plate and contoured in accordance therewith. The hold down bars have 'a resilient facing lla-Fig.' 9. of felt or the like and are lowered onto the transfer sheet and firmly hold same down on the cutter plate during y the cutting operation, as shown in Fig. 1. They are raised 0H the sheet after the cutting and applying operation, prior to each advancement of the transfer sheet.

Tosupport and actuate the hold down bars 4lll and HS, the cutter head E00 and the ap-` plying head itl, a. crosshead 420 is provided. It comprises a rectangular frame within which is secured three spaced parallel bars iii, the frame being raised and lowered between'guides 622 of the frame members b1. The cutter heads It@ are suspended from the outerbars 62| of the crosshead E20 by means of upright boltsy i263 on the cutter head freely extending through bearing openings ld in the bars, with a nut 25 on the tcp end of each bolt to engage the bar in raising the cutter head upon raising of the crosshead. The cutter head is limited for downward movement by having depending adjustable stops l, in the form of bolts, which engage the cutter plate Si in the lowered position of the cutter head. The opposite sides of each cutter'head l0!) has guide portions lill working within guideways i28 incross pieces i 2t extending between the side frame members 51.

Each cutter head comprises a hollow cutting die vpart 93e formed to cooperate with its respective opening il in the cutter plate 9i in cutting the segments from the transfer sheet, when the head is lowered, with the cutting edge itl of the die inclined from one corner ci the die to the opposite one to produce a shearing cut, as shown in Fig. l. The cutter die 13b is detachably secured to an upper portion' |32 of the cutter head by a flange `133 secured to an inner iiange of the upper head portion E32 by the bolts 25. The cutter head is spring pressed from the supporting bars lZl by compression springs i3d encompassing bolts E23 and being interposed be tween the bars and an adjusting nut ISS on the bolts. Thus, the crosshead 428 may continue downward after the cutter head has reached its loweredposition, with the springs being so tensloned to cause the cutter die to cut the trans-` posed between the die flange and the hold down g bars to spring press the bars down upon the transfer sheet as the cutter head ls lowered.

The transfer applying head` iti comprises an upper guide portion itt in the dorm of an arcuate block shaped in accordance with `the cutter die, being guided :for reciprocation within the .upper part itt oi the cutter head and upon the' e ci which is detacjhahly secured the applicater part it@ by means ci bolts it. The applying head is carried by the central bar |2| of the crosshead by having a pair of upright bolts |41 extended freely through openings |42 in the bar. The applicator heads are so arranged that after the transfer segments have been cut by the cutter heads |00, the applicator heads continue downward with the crosshead |28 and incident to such movement, grasp or pick up the cut transfers and resiliently press them onto the verges of the plates (see Fig. l) eected by tension springs |43 surrounding each bolt |4| and interposed between the applicator head thereof and the bar I2|. To regulate the pressure of the applicator part |39. against the verge of a plate, the tension of the springs |43 on the bolts |4i carrying same may be regulated by an adjusting nut |44 on each bolt arranged to engage the bottom end of the spring. Also, the dwell period of the applicator on the transfer may be regulated by adjusting a nut |44a provided on the top end of the bolt |4|.

As seenin Fig. 8, the applicator part |39 is provided with a bottom facing of permeable resilientA material |45 in the form of a rubber 'pad fitted into the cavity |48 or otherwise secured to said part. and provided with very small perforations |41. A perforated metal backing,

'|48 is provided for the pad and is tted within a shoulder |49 in the cavity |48 of the applicator.

The bottom face of the applicator pad |45 is contoured generally to the shape of that portion of sloping verge of the plate to be operated upon, with the exception that it is slightly convexed relative theretoI to first contact the central portion of the transfer with the ware surface, then progressively apply it to the brim to expel all air therebetween, as shown in Fig. 8.

-As the applying head |0| is lowered, sub-atmosphere or vacuum is established in the cavity |46 of the applicator part |39 to be effective through the perforations of the pad |45 to cause the transfer segment engaged thereby to adhere thereto, and, as the applicator is raised after having applied the transfer, same -is released therefrom by'dissipating the vacuum in the head or blowing air under pressure through the cavity of the applicator part.

To accomplish this result, as shown in Fig. 8,

a vacuum pump |50 and an air pressure pump I5| 'are employed whose service ports are alternately connected with the cavity |48 of the applicator 'part |39 through thegintermediation of a slide valve device |54. Therefore, the port 38' of the valve device |54 connects with the cavity |48 of the applicator part by a flexible conduit |56 leading therefrom into connection with a passage 56 in the applicator head which opens into said cavity. In this device, the ports 48 and 4|' connect with the service ports of the vacuum pump |50 and pressure pump lil by conduits |81 and |58, respectively. Athrottle valve |88 may be interposed ineach conduit '|81 and |58 to regulate the amount of vacuum or pressure to be established in the cavity l|48 of the applicator part. However, in the valve device |84, there is only one event port 48' in the valve casing Il' to vent the space below the valve member 44', which is extended to maintain the port 4| closed `when connecting the vacuum pump with the applicator part. As cam shaft 4l' is rotated, cam

` 48', successively engages cam rollers 8l' and slides the roller block ll' back and -forth to thereby slide the valve member 44' back and forth and open andlor close the various ports.

The, roller block slides upwardly against the terision of return spring lla'. t

The crosshead |20 carrying the cutting and applying heads is reciprocated by having an adinstable linkage connection with the lower crosshead 54. Said linkage includes a link |80 whose top end is pivotally connected, as at |8I. with an upstanding boss |82 on the crosshead |28, and having its lower end pivotally connected, as at |83, with one end of a rocker arm |84 provided with a slot in its other end to form a sliding pivotal connection with a pin |88 extended from the crosshead 84 through a vertical slot |81 in one of the side frames 5l. The rocker arm |84 has a number of pivot apertures lila spaced therealong for providing an adjustable pivotal connection with a stud |88 in regulating the amount or range of reciprocation of the crosshead |20, as desired.

Thus, it will be seen that upon each cycle of operation of the crossheads 54 and |20, the plates on a tray will be lifted oil the seats thereof, a segment applied to its verge, and then rotated by the chucks, a quarter of a turn as they are lowered again into their seats. As this operation is repeated four times while the tray dwells at this station, four such segments will have been applied to the plates to form an annular decoration thereon, with the transfer segments being arranged edge to edge or equally spaced as the case may be, on the verge of the plate and fitting the surface described thereby, which approximates a portion of a cone, as shown in Fig. 12.

Where the verge of a plate is fiat as at 88 in Fig.` 13, a circular transfer, for instance, a disc. i

may if desired be cut in one piece and the whole applied to the ware in one operation. If applied in the form of a ring, the ring would be the same size as the verge of the plate. That is to say the outer circumference of the ring and the inner circumference thereof would be the same as the verge. Obviously, the diameter of the ring may not be exactly equal to the diameter of the verge and it may be of greater or lesser width depending upon the width of the circle of decoration. Whether divided into segments, the transfer would normally be cut to t a surface describing a ring or a portion thereof lying in a flat plane.

In the case of disc shaped ware having an inwardly sloping verge. the transfer ring or ring segment is cut to fit a conic surface. Since the transfer is cut from a sheet lying in a flat plane. the correct shape of segment must first be determined before the decoration is printed on the sheet. Thisfactor is also taken into considerationln fashioning the shape of the cutter slot, the cutter and the decalcomania applicator. Thus, after determining the inner and outer radius of the cone and the angle of its slope. a ring segment which would fit the cone is laid out on a flat surface, as shown in Fig. i8. It will be noted that when laid out in a fiat plane, a complete circle or ring is not formed, see Fig. 18, therefore the remaining portion of the segment must be divided into sections of equal size. in the present instance, four. in order to fit the verge of the plate, see Fig. 12. The shape and size of a cutter head, the cutter and the cutter slot will depend to some extent upon the result of these calculations.

Fig. 11 illustrates how four dierent decorative designs of different size can be applied to the verge of a disc-like article. The transfers, due to the size and location of the decoration, may

. en d of the reel shaft tta.

'clutch 2te may be employed on the speed reo fil.

be arranged in non-'abutting relation but they may all be applied with the same implement.

l The means for advancing the conveyor and for driving the various devices oi the machine in timed relation will now be described. To this end, the shaft tt may be considered as the main drive shaft coupled to a suitable prime mover, or motor, not shown.

As seen in Fig. 6, the conveyor 2 is intermittently advanced in accordance with the spacing of the trays thereon by an oscillating lever itt whose top end is provldedwith a pawl iti having a hooked end itil adapted for engagement between the bearings itt of the links of the chains itt of the conveyor to advance same in one direction of movement of the lever. The lever is fulcrumed as at its and is oscillated by a cam it@ on a shaft i8? which is driven by the drive shaft t byv having a sprocket wheel itt thereon connected by a chain it@ with a sprocket wheel itt on the shaft td. The Wheel i 8d is four times the size of the wheel itil to cause the lever ist to advancethe conveyor once for four cycles of operation of the shaft et and applying apparatus controlled thereby. On the lever it@ is a roller iti for engaging the cam itt and is resiliently'- held in engagement |therewith by a tension spring 92 connected between the lever and the frame. .A screw lata adjustably limits the stroke of lever it@ and consequently the tray.

The shaft lu' controlling the operation of the l valve itil for the vacuum and pressure system of the applicator head is driven by the drive shaft Si?, with similar sprocket wheels itt on said shafts connected by a sprocket chain itl.

A; seen in Fis. 3, takeup reel t@ for the transier sheet may-be driven by a combination motor and adjustable speed reducer |198 on whose drive shaft its is a sprocket wheel 2Gb connected by a sprocket chain 2M with a sprocket wheel 202 on a shaft 203 supported' in the bearing t8. The

shaft ttt is detachably connected with the taireup reel to drive same, by having thereon a spring pressed clutch member @dit connecting with a correlatively formed clutch member ttt on the A suitable friction doing this, the transfer segment will correspondi inglyprogressively engage the face of the pad from the inner edge to its outer edge, whereby wrinlrling of the segment will be prevented. This is especially advantageous where the pad face is formed to apply a transfer to the verge of a plate that slopes considerably as shown in Fig. l5. As shown in Fig. l5 in this iorm,ithe applicator part itt is provided with a multiple of chambers ttt and 2te spaced apart over the pad itt by a partition dit, with each chamber being alternately connected with a vacuum pump it@ and pressure pump iti by a valve itt. In this form, however, the cams 4t' of the valves itt would be so set on the shaft lit' at different positions as to cause vacuum to be established in the chambers 2cd and ttt progressively.

In the form shown in Fig. 19, there is a centrai chamber 29B' and a multiple of outer chambers 209' spaced along the length ,oi the pad itt' by partitions Zit' with the central and outer chairibers connected through separate valves itt to a source of vacuum and pressure. It is preferrea to operate this applicator in such fashion' as to first secure the central portion of the cutout to the head and then progressively secure the outer portions, thus allowing the outer portionsto move Ilaterally and be secured inreadjusted position inherent in applying a at segment to a with the handle 2id ofthe cup positioned in a depression 2li in the pocket to predetermined decoration position. In this form, the applicator part itt' is'formed arcuately in conformity' with the sides of the cup. and is adapted when lowered to pick up an elongated transfer segment tt after being cut and apply same to the cup. The applicator has 'an upper guide portion i3d', on arcuate pad MB" fitted into an arcuate cavity itt' connected by passage it' to a source of vacuum and compressed air. l,

It will be understood that the present machine and method may be used to out out and apply decalcomania to articles other than potteryware such as, for instance. dinner or tableware arttcles made of glass, metal or otherv compositions. Therefore, the expression and the like appear-f ing in some of the following claims may be con- 'Ill strued as also covering them.

I claim:

and applying decalcoxnania transfers and the like to red pottery ware and the like, the comblnation which comprises, a movable ware support, means for moving said support, a cutterand applier ctv-axially arranged above said support,-

means for feeding transfer bearing material to the cutter and applier, and means, actuated by the means for moving said support, for actuating said cutter, applier and means for feeding trans-f fer bearing material to the cutter and applier.

2. In apparatus for automatically cutting out and applying decalcomania transfers and the like to red potteryware and the likathe combina tion which comprises, a movable ware support, means for moving said support, a rotatable ware lifter, a cutter.. an applier lco-axial therewith having a suction head arranged above and inl tion which comprises, a movable ware support,V

means for moving said support, a cutter and Y'applier cfr-axially arranged vabove the support,

l. In apparatus for automatically cutting out 11 and means actuated by the means for moving said support, for actuating said cutter and applier.v

4. In apparatus for cutting out and applying decalcomania transfers and the like to red potteryware and the like, the combination which comprises, a ware support for receiving and supporting ware to be decorated, relatively movable decalcomania cutting and applying means coaxially arranged tl'ireabove for cutting out and applying decalcomania transfers to ware supported thereby and an adjuster for regulating the amount of relative movement therebetween.

5. In apparatus for automatically cutting out decalcomania transfers and the like for application to ilred potteryware and the like, the combination which comprises, a movable ware support, means for moving said support, a hole punching cutter for cutting out decalcomania transfers from a parent sheet of transfer bearing material arranged above the ware support and means for actuating said cutter.

6. In apparatus for automatically applying decalcomania transfers and the` like to fired potteryware and the like, the combination which comprises, a movable ware support, means for moving said support, a decalcomania transfer applier and p aper punch for punching out decalcomanias from transfer bearing material arranged above the ware support, and means, for actuating said punch.

7. In apparatus for applying decalcomania and the like transfers to fired pottery articles and the like, a ware support for receiving and supporting ware to be decorated, decalcomania transfer cutting and applying means, means for relatively reciprocating and rotating the ware support and the cutting and applying means, and means for regulating the amount of reciprocation and rotation therebetween.

8. In apparatus for applying decalcomania and the like to fired pottery articles and the like, a chuck for supporting articles whilst decalcomania is applied thereto, a decalcomania transfer cutter, a decalcomania transfer applier, means for relatively reciprocating and rotating the chuck and the cutter and applier, and means for feeding material bearing decalcomania to the cutter.

9. In apparatus for applying decalcomania and the like to red pottery articles and the like, a chuck for supporting articles whilst decalcomania is applied thereto, a decalcomania transfer cutter, a decalcomania transfer applier, means for feeding material bearing decalcomania to the cutter, means for relatively reciprocating and rotating the chuck and the cutter and applier, and ware transporting means for delivering ware to the chuck.

10. A device for cutting and applying decalcomania transfers and the like to articles such as fired potteryware comprising a cutter having a cutting surface curved lengthwise to correspond generally to the curvature of the article and an applicator having an applying surface curved to correspond generally to the curvature of the article.

11. A device for cutting and applying decalcomania transfers and the like to articles such as fired potteryware comprising a hollow cutter and an applicator mounted inside the hollow cutter for movement relative thereto.

12. A device for cutting and applying decalcomania transfers and the like to disc-like articles such as red potteryware comprising a hollow cutter having a sloping cutting surface curved lengthwise to conform generally to the curvature of the brim of the article and an applicator mounted inside. the hollow cutter and movable relative thereto, said cutter having an applying surface, generally conforming to the curvature of the brim of the article.

13. In apparatus for cutting out decalcomania transfers to be applied to disc-like articles such as fired potteryware, a member having an aperture therein curved lengthwise to conform generally to the curvature of the brim of the ware, and a hollow cutter having a cutting surface curved lengthwise to conform generally to the curvature of the opening and means for movmoving the cutter through the sheet and opening.

to cut transfers conforming generally to the curvature ofthe ware therefrom.

15. In apparatus for cutting out decalcomania transfers and the like to be applied to disc-like articles such as fired potteryware, a member having an opening therein curved lengthwise to conform generally to the curvature of the ware, means for feeding a sheet of transfer paper bearing transfers across said opening and indexing transfers therewith hold down means for pressing the paper against said member on each side of the opening so as to tension the paper, a hollow cutter having a cutting surface curved lengthwise to conform generally to the curvature of the opening, means for moving the cutter through the sheet and opening to cut transfers conforming generally to the curvature of the ware therefrom and means, operable to lift the hold down means and actuate the feeding means when the cutter is withdrawn from the opening.

16. In apparatus for cutting out decalcomania transfers and the like and applying them to disclke articles such as red potteryware, a member having an opening therein curved lengthwise to conform generally to the brim of the article, means for feeding a sheet of transfers across said opening and indexing transfers therewith, a hollow cutter having a cutting surface curved lengthwise to conform to the curvature of the opening, an applicator inside the hollow cutter having an applying surface curved lengthwise to.

conform generally to the curvature of the opening, means operable to move the cutter through the sheet of transfers and the opening to cut-a transfer shaped generally to conform to the brim of the ware and means for moving the applicator relative to the cutter and through the opening to deliver the cut out transfer to an article of ware therebelow and apply the same thereto.

17. A method of applying decalcomania and the like to disc-like table ware such as a dinner plate which comprises, cutting from a fiat sheet a decalcomania having the form of a segment of the circular conic verge of the ware, depositing the segment on the verge of the ware and laying additional similarly cut out and shaped segments in endwise relation around the remainder of the l verge until the complete circle of decoration has been applied.

18..A method of applying decalcomania and the like to disc-like table ware such as dinner plates and the like which comprises, cutting from a fiat sheet a transfer having the shapeof an interrupted ring. depositing the transfer on-the verge of the ware the ends of the ring being joined to form a conic shape corresponding to the conic shape of the verge oi the Ware.

19. A method of applying decalcomania and the like to disc-like table ware such as dinner plates and the like which comprises, cutting in succession from a 'at sheet above and in register with the ware a plurality of transfers having the shape of a segment offa circle and depositing the transfers in successive order in end to andi-re-I lation on the verge oi' the ware to form a circlee of decoration.

20. The method of decorating disc-like nred potteryware and the like which comprises, alternately rotating the ware and cutting out and applying transfers from a position directly above the brim of the ware until a complete circle of decoration is completed around the brim.

2l. A method of applying decalcomania transfers and the like to hollow articles such as handled cups which comprises, socketing the cup on its side in a yieldable chuck with the handle firmly cushioned to avoid breaking and rotation, and then. directly above the cup, cutting out a transfer in registration with the cup and transporting the transfer downwardly to and around the cup.

22. In the manufacture of pottery ware, the method of decorating the ware which comprises, successively bringing into registry with an article to be decorated a plurality of interconnected transfers, adapted to form a complete design, and by successively separating transfers in registration with the ware and alternately turning the ware. applying them in successive order to the ware to form a complete decoration thereon.

23. In the manufacture of pottery ware, the method of decorating the ware .which comprises punching from a parent sheet a transfer above and in registration with a given portion of the ware, causing the transfer to be gripped by a movable applying member and applied to the Ware, and then releasing the transfer from the member after the applying operation.

2a. ln the manufacture of pottery ware. the method of decorating the ware which comprises punching out from e, parent sheet a transfer above and in registry with a portion of the Ware, gripping the transfer by an applicator and progressively applying it to the ware on said portion, and then releasing the transfer to the ware. t

25. A method of decorating pottery ware which comprises. bringing into registry an unsevered transfer and an article to which the transfer is to be applied, cutting the transfer to nt the surface of the article to which it is to be applied whilst the two are in registry and applying the transfer thereto whilst maintaining registry therebetween.

26. In apparatus for decorating pottery ware, a ware support adapted to receive ware to be decorated, a member having an opening in registry with the Ware,said opening being shaped to produce a transfer that will fit the surface of the ware to be decorated.. means for successively indexing a sheet of transfers with the opening and means shaped as the opening and movable through the opening for cutting and applying transfers to the ware.

27. In combination. means for supporting an article of pottery to be decorated. ymeans for cutting to a desired form from a parent paper backing a transfer in registry with the article. and means for engaging the cut transfer and applying same to a given portion of the article.

28. In combination, means for supporting an article of pottery to be decorated, means for cutting to a desired form from a parent paper backing a transfer in register with the article, and means for engaging the out transfer and applying same to a given portion ofthe article including an applying head having a surface for engaging the transfer and formed in accordance therewith, and means for causing the transfer to temporarily adhere to said surface during the applying operation.

29. In combination, means for supporting an article of pottery to be decorated, means for cutting to a desired form from a parent paper backing a transfer in register with the article, and means for engaging the cut transfer and applying same to a given portion of the article, wherein the cutting means comprises a hollow cutting tool within which the applying means operates.

30. In combination, an intermittently rotated support for an article of pottery, means for successively cutting to desired form from a parent ceramic a series of decalcomania transfers in register with the article, and means for successively engaging the cut transfers and applying same to the article between intermittent rotations of the support.

3l. The method of decorating ceramic flatware which comprises, cutting out from. a sheet lying 33. The method of applying decoration to pot-- tery articles and the like which comprises, indexing a decoration before severance from a parent sheet with the place on the ware where it is to be deposited. cutting out the decoration from the parent sheet and applying it to the were during such indexed relation, moving the Ware to bring another and undecorated surface of the ware into position for decoration, indexing another decoration therewith and applying the same to the ware as aforesaid and repeating the operation as many times as necessary until the full amount of decoration to be applied to the article has been deposited thereon.

34. In apparatus for applying decalcomania to potteryware and the liire, conveying means ar ranged to transport the `ware along a path wherein decalcomania transfers are applied thereto and mechanism arranged above the path of travel of the Ware, automatically operable to register decalcomania transfers in. strip form with the ware and punch them out and apply them to the ware.

35. In apparatus for applying decalcomania to potteryware and the like. conveying means ar ranged to transport the ware along a path wherein decalcomania transfers are applied thereto, a strip of uncut decalcomania transfers above the wai-e and niechanism arranged above the strip, automatically operable to hold down the strip, out out transfers therefrom and` apply them to the Ware.

` WIILIAM J. MILLER.

Name Date Number Richardson Feb. 10, 1914 Number Number 16 Name Date Richardson Feb. 10, 1914 Bogatylet al May 2, 1922 Smith et al July 23, 1935 Gray Mar. 9, 1937 Shurley Jan. 21, 1941 Orswell Dec. 15, 1942 Miller et al July 13, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date GreatBritain Apr. '7, 1938 

